By Sohaib Shams
Voters in Washington state have approved a ballot measure that bars transgender girls from participating in girls' school sports teams, marking a significant setback for LGBTQ+ rights in a reliably Democratic state.
Initiative 638, which passed with about 57% support as of Thursday morning, requires students in elementary, middle, and high school who wish to join girls' athletics to submit statements from healthcare providers verifying their "biological sex." The mandate allows verification through hormone or genetic tests, or genital examinations.
Measure Details and Requirements
The measure applies only to women's sports; boys are not subject to similar requirements. It also prohibits doctors from relying on birth certificates to confirm eligibility. The initiative was introduced in 2025 by the political action committee Let's Go Washington, founded by hedge fund manager Brian Heywood.
Opposition and Medical Concerns
Opponents, including more than 140 healthcare providers, warned that the measure could force tens of thousands of girls each year to undergo invasive genital exams. Pediatric nurse Kelsey Gellner said such exams create an unsafe barrier for children. Family physician Libby Loft criticized the requirement as inappropriate for a sports physical and noted that girls are already twice as likely as boys to drop out of sports by age 14.
National Context and Legal Challenges
More than 25 states have adopted similar bans on transgender youth athletes, mostly through Republican-led legislation. Voters in Arizona and Nebraska approved comparable measures this week, while a Colorado ban led in early returns. Civil rights advocates argue Washington's ban violates privacy and equal protection rights and plan legal challenges before the law takes effect in December.
